After being delayed by concerns about its appearance and safety, a plan to upgrade a playground on the Mandeville lakefront was given the green light by the City Council Thursday night. The council adopted a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute a contract to install new playground equipment at West Beach Park, located on the eastern end of Lakeshore Drive.

Under the contract, the city will spend around $100,000 to refurbish the kiddie play area. Last month, the council deferred action on the issue after some residents and officials questioned whether the upgraded play area could expose the city to lawsuits if children are injured. Some also expressed concerns that expanding the playground could undermine lakefront's pastoral setting.

The council decided to have the Mandeville Parks and Parkways Commission weigh in on the subject before making a decision. The commission recommended that the plan be modified by moving some of the equipment earmarked for the playground, including swingsets, to another play area on the eastern side of Lakeshore Drive near the Mandeville Yacht Club.

The council voted unanimously to go along with the recommendation and authorize the contract.

The contract is to be awarded to DynaPlay, LLC, of Metairie. After soliciting proposals for the project, a committee of city experts evaluated bids from three companies before settling on DynaPlay. The company scored highest in the evaluation process, officials said.